England and Australia stars set to wear names and numbers in the Ashes for the first time in a Test match Players have never worn numbers on shirts in Test cricket's 142-year history The ICC plan for the Ashes to be their World Test Championship series opener It is believed they will help make players more easily identifiable for fans By Jack Bezants for MailOnline Published: 10:50 GMT, 19 March 2019 | Updated: 10:53 GMT, 19 March 2019 Viewcomments This summer's Ashes series could see a first in 142 years of Test cricket - players wearing names and numbers on the back of their shirts. According to The Guardian, the move comes as part of the ICC's plan to make the Ashes the opening event in their World Test Championship series - a nine-team, two-year competition ending with a final in England in 2021. The ICC are said to be considering the introduction of names and numbers on kits to help players become more easily identifiable. Numbers on shirts could be coming to the Ashes this summer between England and Australia Traditionally, names and numbers in international cricket are just used for one-day formats, although County Championship players wear names and numbers across their four-day first class matches. Yet since the very first Test series, between England and Australia in 1877 in Melbourne, players have always played in whites. Players are set to be able to choose their own squad numbers, ranging from 1-99. It is believed numbers on Test shirts will help spectators to identify players on the pitch If they correspond to one-day numbers, captain Joe Root will wear No 66, Moeen Ali will have No 18 and Jonny Bairstow No 51. The five-Test series begins on August 1 at Edgbaston, with hosts England looking to reclaim the urn after losing the last series in Australia 4-0. It will be a bumper summer of cricket for England, who are hosting the World Cup from May 30-July 14. Read more: Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility